WO2021020973A1 - Volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus - Google Patents

Volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021020973A1
WO2021020973A1 PCT/NZ2020/050078 NZ2020050078W WO2021020973A1 WO 2021020973 A1 WO2021020973 A1 WO 2021020973A1 NZ 2020050078 W NZ2020050078 W NZ 2020050078W WO 2021020973 A1 WO2021020973 A1 WO 2021020973A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
volatile compound
resistant container
pressure resistant
capture
pressure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2020/050078
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Que ZHENG
Mehdi Ghavami NEJAD
Nicholas Mark SELF
Original Assignee
Genera Science And Innovation Limited
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Publication date
Application filed by Genera Science And Innovation Limited filed Critical Genera Science And Innovation Limited
Publication of WO2021020973A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021020973A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C11/00—Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0462—Temperature swing adsorption
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/047—Pressure swing adsorption
    • B01D53/0476—Vacuum pressure swing adsorption
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/26—Drying gases or vapours
    • B01D53/265—Drying gases or vapours by refrigeration (condensation)
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
    • B01D2253/102—Carbon
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
    • B01D2253/106—Silica or silicates
    • B01D2253/108—Zeolites
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
    • B01D2253/20—Organic adsorbents
    • B01D2253/202—Polymeric adsorbents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/20—Halogens or halogen compounds
    • B01D2257/206—Organic halogen compounds
    • B01D2257/2062—Bromine compounds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
    • B01D2257/70—Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
    • B01D2257/708—Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2259/00—Type of treatment
    • B01D2259/40—Further details for adsorption processes and devices
    • B01D2259/40007—Controlling pressure or temperature swing adsorption
    • B01D2259/40009—Controlling pressure or temperature swing adsorption using sensors or gas analysers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D2259/00—Type of treatment
    • B01D2259/40—Further details for adsorption processes and devices
    • B01D2259/40083—Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption
    • B01D2259/40088—Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption by heating
    • B01D2259/4009—Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption by heating using hot gas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0027—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation by direct contact between vapours or gases and the cooling medium
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0407—Constructional details of adsorbing systems
    • B01D53/0438—Cooling or heating systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
    • B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
    • B01D53/0454—Controlling adsorption
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/02—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
    • B01J20/10—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising silica or silicate
    • B01J20/16—Alumino-silicates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/02—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material
    • B01J20/20—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising inorganic material comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/24—Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/26—Synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/34—Regenerating or reactivating
    • B01J20/3491—Regenerating or reactivating by pressure treatment
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/40—Aspects relating to the composition of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/42—Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/40—Aspects relating to the composition of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/46—Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic and organic materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/50—Aspects relating to the use of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/66—Other type of housings or containers not covered by B01J2220/58 - B01J2220/64

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus.
  • this apparatus may have a portable character and may facilitate the rapid delivery of volatile compounds from a storage medium.
  • Volatile organic compounds are used in a wide range of applications for a variety of purposes. Exposure to some of these components has been shown to cause disease in humans and animals, while others are a contaminant or pollutant when released into the environment. These volatile organic compounds need to be handled, stored and disposed of carefully. The equipment and procedures employed with the use of these compounds needs to ensure that they are contained at all times and their users are not inadvertently exposed to them. Some of these compounds are also
  • fumigant gases which act as pesticides, herbicides or
  • insecticides can be circulated within an enclosed volume.
  • Fumigant gases can be used to kill pests in the interior of structures such as buildings, ship holds or grain silos, as well as to sterilise goods present within shipping containers.
  • fumigant gases can be deployed into stacks of logs wrapped in fabric covers to sterilise the wood prior to or after shipping. The range of applications for fumigant gases requires these gases to be pumped into and removed from both comparatively small and relatively large enclosed volumes.
  • fumigation gas compounds pose human health and safety risks. Furthermore, some of these compounds are also a source of environmental pollution when vented directly to the atmosphere. In particular, methyl bromide is a widely used fumigant which reacts with ozone. Various regulatory bodies around the world are now beginning to restrict the venting of these types of gases directly to the atmosphere.
  • volatile organic compounds may form a contaminant within a large volume of solid materials such as topsoil, waste materials from building demolitions, or rubbish materials in general. These materials need to undergo a remediation process to remove volatile contaminants which may only be present in small concentrations but which still can pose a significant health risk. Such remediation processes require these volatile compounds to be extracted and then either stored securely or destroyed completely.
  • treatment liquid with the fumigant gas does not allow fumigant gases to be stored and used more than once.
  • a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus which includes
  • a pressure resistant container which encloses and contains storage media capable of adsorbing and storing a volatile compound and desorbing said compound, the pressure resistant container defining an inlet port and an outlet port,
  • At least one pressure conduit defining part of a fluid circulation path between the outlet and inlet ports of the pressure resistant container, the remaining part of the fluid circulation path traversing the interior of the pressure resistant container,
  • a heat exchange structure coupled to at least one pressure conduit and being configured to transfer heat to a fluid circulating within the part of the fluid circulation path defined by said at least one pressure conduit,
  • a fluid drive assembly associated with the said at least one pressure conduit configured to circulate fluid around the fluid circulation path
  • a vacuum pump which is configured to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path and pressure resistant container from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus
  • an inlet stage configured to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound
  • a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of the pressure vessel configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage prior to delivery to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container
  • an adsorption drive assembly configured to draw gas into the inlet stage and through the dehumidifier structure, pressure resistant container and to exhaust gas from the outlet stage, and
  • valves are operable to isolate the fluid circulation path from the inlet stage, outlet stage and dehumidification structure during regeneration operations and which are operable to isolate said at least one pressure conduit defining part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container during capture
  • the present invention provides a volatile compound capture
  • the invention also facilitates the execution of a method of volatile capture and regeneration using this apparatus.
  • the apparatus provided may allow volatile compounds to be captured and stored in a stable and safe manner and then delivered from storage when required again.
  • the facility provided by the invention therefore allows for the reuse and recycling of such volatile compounds without generating a stream of waste materials, as it is normally experienced when volatile compounds are destroyed or neutralised after a single use.
  • the invention may perform a capture operation to remove the volatile compound from a volume or area, and at a later date may perform a regeneration operation which facilitates delivery of the same volatile compound, preferably to a different volume or area, and potentially at a later time.
  • the invention may be used to capture and regenerate methyl bromide.
  • Methyl bromide is a volatile organic compound commonly used in fumigation applications which also forms an
  • the apparatus provided by the invention may have a portable character, allowing it to be transported to a site where methyl bromide gas is to be delivered and then subsequently removed.
  • the apparatus provided by the invention incorporates a pressure resistant container with at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port.
  • This pressure resistant container is used to contain a storage media capable of adsorbing and storing methyl bromide and then desorbing methyl bromide depending on the environment or conditions experienced by the storage media.
  • the storage media contained within the pressure resistant container may act to adsorb methyl bromide when experiencing ambient or relatively low temperatures, while the same media may desorb methyl bromide when exposed to high temperatures and/or a low-pressure environment.
  • the storage media used by the present invention may be activated carbon.
  • Activated carbon is relatively inexpensive material which can function in the role required of a storage media in accordance with the present invention.
  • the storage media used by the invention may include mixtures of various components, such as for example a combination of activated carbon, zeolite and polymeric adsorbents.
  • a combination of activated carbon, zeolite and polymeric adsorbents such as for example a combination of activated carbon, zeolite and polymeric adsorbents.
  • activated carbon storage media may be employed which exhibits the following characteristics:
  • the storage media used by the invention is enclosed and contained within a pressure resistant container.
  • the use of a pressure resistant container in this role facilitates high-temperature desorption operations, allowing for the rapid release and use of the volatile compounds present within the contained storage media.
  • the use of a high temperature desorption operation in turn generates a high pressure environment, which can be particularly dangerous when flammable volatile compounds such as methyl bromide gas are to be regenerated.
  • a pressure resistant container in accordance with the invention securely contains these high-temperature and high-pressure explosive gas mixtures, allowing volatile compounds to be removed from storage relatively rapidly.
  • a pressure resistant container also facilities the use of a vacuum pump in combination with the invention, as discussed further below. Again the pressure resistant container used can resist a compressive force applied through the operation of such a vacuum pump.
  • accordance with the invention may operate at temperatures ranging between -10 to 300 degrees Celsius and/or at pressures ranging between 0- 400 kPa (abs). Again those skilled in the art will also appreciate that other forms or configurations of pressure vessels can however also be used in conjunction with the present invention.
  • a pressure resistant container may include an outlet port located adjacent to the top or upper section of the vessel, and an inlet port located adjacent to the bottom or the lower section of the vessel.
  • gas flows will therefore enter from the lower section of the vessel and exit from its upper section.
  • a pressure resistant container provided by the invention may also incorporate or be covered by an insulation jacket.
  • Thermal insulation material may be used to form this jacket which can operate to retain and trap heat within the interior of the pressure resistant container.
  • This insulation jacket can therefore improve the rate at which methyl bromide can be desorbed from the contained storage media and/or to provide energy efficiency improvements in the use of the present invention.
  • a pressure vessel reservoir may also incorporate or contain a storage media agitation structure.
  • This component may be activated when methyl bromide is to be desorbed from the storage media and can act to mix to or move the storage media within the pressure vessel reservoir.
  • a storage media agitation structure may be formed from a set of mixing paddles linked to a central driveshaft deployed in approximately the centre of the pressure vessel reservoir. Rotation of the driveshaft and connected paddles can agitate and stir the storage media, promoting desorption of stored methyl bromide.
  • the present invention includes an inlet stage configured to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound.
  • this inlet stage may be formed from or incorporate an entry port defined in a conduit used to transfer gas to further components of the invention.
  • the inlet stage can therefore be located adjacent to or within a volume which contains the specific volatile compound to be captured and regenerated in conjunction with the invention.
  • the inlet stage may be located underneath or within a fabric cover used to trap methyl bromide gas delivered to a material being fumigated.
  • the inlet stage may also incorporate or be associated with a filter mechanism.
  • This filter mechanism can be used to prevent solid materials or large diameter particles from being transmitted through the inlet stage to other components of the invention.
  • the present invention includes an outlet stage configured to receive gas from the outlet port of the pressure resistant container and to this exhaust gas from the invention.
  • this outlet stage may be formed from or incorporate an exit port defined in a conduit used to transfer gas from the pressure resistant container.
  • the outlet stage can be located adjacent to or within a volume which contains the specific volatile compound to be captured and regenerated in conjunction with the invention.
  • the outlet stage can be placed within the same volume of space as the inlet stage, spaced apart from or displaced from the inlet stage to allow the invention to circulate the gas present in this volume.
  • the outlet stage may be located in one particular preferred embodiment where the invention is used in a fumigation application with methyl bromide.
  • the outlet stage can be located at a distance from any inlet stage positioned underneath the same fabric cover to circulate the methyl bromide contained under the cover.
  • the present invention also includes a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of a pressure vessel.
  • This dehumidification structure is configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage and then deliver the dried or dehumidified gas to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container.
  • a dehumidification structure may be formed from a cooling or chilling apparatus located within or in association with a condensation chamber. Gas flows from the inlet stage may be channelled through this condensation chamber and experience a drop in temperature, prompting water vapour present in the gas to condense into liquid water.
  • the unwanted liquid water can then collect at the bottom of the
  • condensation chamber while the dried gas flow may then be channelled through to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container.
  • a condensation chamber may be cooled or chilled by a liquid refrigerant material cooled by a refrigeration unit and subsequently circulated through a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber.
  • a liquid refrigerant material cooled by a refrigeration unit and subsequently circulated through a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber.
  • dehumidification structure may be formed from a condensation chamber and a refrigeration unit connected to a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber, where the refrigeration unit is configured to circulate cooled liquid refrigerant material through the heat exchange system.
  • the invention also incorporates an adsorption drive assembly configured to draw gas into the inlet stage and transport gas through the dehumidifier structure and pressure resistant container, and then to exhaust gas from the outlet stage.
  • an adsorption drive assembly may be formed by a fan
  • this fan being integrated in line with any one of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure or outlet stage, this fan being of a sufficient capacity or power to generate desired gas flow rates through these components of the invention.
  • the inlet stage, dehumidification structure, and outlet stage allows the gas present in the same volume as the inlet and outlet stages to be circulated through the pressure resistant container, thereby adsorbing and storing volatile compounds present in this volume.
  • the dehumidification structure can remove water from the gas as it circulates, increasing the rate of adsorption of the related volatile compound as it moves through the pressure resistant container. Gas may be continuously circulated from the inlet through to the outlet stage until the concentration of the volatile compound being stored drops to below a desirable value.
  • the present invention may also include an adsorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide
  • At least one component of an adsorption sensor assembly may be associated with any one or more of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure and/or outlet stage.
  • an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies.
  • an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an adsorption sensor assembly may
  • adsorption sensor assembly may be composed from or incorporate any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
  • an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and a volatile compound
  • the adsorption sensor assembly can provide useful information for fine tuning the operation of the invention when used to adsorb or store volatile compounds, and can also indicate when the concentration of a volatile compound present in the gas being circulated has dropped below a threshold or target value.
  • the adsorption sensor assembly may be used during capture operations where an output obvious in sensor assembly can be used to trigger the termination of the capture operation when the concentration of the volatile compound present in the gas drawn into the inlet stage drops below a threshold value.
  • the present invention also includes at least one pressure conduit which defines part of a fluid circulation path extending between the outlet and inlet ports of the pressure resistant container. The remaining part of this fluid circulation path traverses the interior of the pressure resistant container.
  • a pressure conduit may be formed from any applicable conduit which is rated to or has the capacity to function without damage when exposed to high pressures.
  • a pressure conduit may include a plurality of pressure conduits formed from an array of serially connected stainless steel conduits rated to operate without damage when exposed to pressures ranging between 0 to 400 kPa (abs).
  • a pressure conduit or conduits employed with the invention may be covered by a thermally insulating material.
  • This thermally insulating material can be employed to restrict the loss of heat from fluids travelling through the part of the fluid circulation path defined by the conduit.
  • the invention also incorporates a fluid drive assembly associated with this pressure conduit or conduits.
  • This fluid drive assembly is configured to circulate fluid around the fluid circulation path.
  • a fluid drive assembly may be formed from a fan or impeller system rated to operate at temperatures ranging between 200-300 degrees Celsius.
  • the invention also incorporates a heat exchange structure coupled to at least one pressure conduit.
  • This heat exchange structure is configured to transfer heat to a fluid circulating within the pressure conduit or conduits referenced above.
  • a heat exchange structure may be formed by a material placed in contact with the exterior surface of a pressure conduit where a heat transfer fluid is heated and circulated through this material. Fleat can therefore be transferred through the wall of the pressure conduit and into fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path.
  • a heat exchange structure may also incorporate a heat generation system such as a hydrocarbon fuelled boiler or electrical element based system.
  • the heat transfer fluid used may be heated by this component to allow for heating of the fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path.
  • a heat exchange structure may be configured to raise the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path to at least 100 degrees Celsius, and preferably into the range of 200-300 degrees Celsius. These relatively high temperatures can promote the desorption of volatile compounds stored in the media contained by the pressure vessel as fluid present within the fluid circulation path moves through the pressure resistant container. This range of operating temperatures can be utilised to both efficiently remove large amounts of stored volatile compounds from the pressure resistant container in addition to minimising the time required to remove such volatile compounds.
  • the pressure conduit or conduits, heat exchange structure and fluid drive assembly can be utilised in a regeneration, desorption or delivery operation to extract volatile compounds present within the pressure resistant container's storage media.
  • a closed loop circulation process may be implemented to heat the gas present in the fluid circulation path as it is continuously circulated through the pressure resistant container by the fluid drive assembly. This process can ultimately generate a fluid mixture of the original gas present with the fluid circulation path and the gas phase of the volatile compound originally stored in the pressure vessel.
  • the present invention may also include a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide
  • At least one component of a desorption sensor assembly may be associated with any one or more of the pressure conduit or conduits used, the heat exchange structure and/or the pressure resistant container itself.
  • a desorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies.
  • a desorption sensor assembly may be composed from incorporate any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
  • a desorption sensor assembly may incorporate a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and a volatile compound concentration detector.
  • the desorption sensor assembly can provide useful information for fine tuning the operation of the invention when used to desorption previously stored volatile compounds, and can also indicate the concentration of a volatile compound present in the fluid being circulated through the pressure resistant container.
  • an output signal or signal sourced from a desorption sensor assembly may identify the concentration of a desorbed volatile compound circulated within the invention's fluid flow path during a regeneration operation. If this sensor assembly output identifies that this concentration has exceeded a threshold value the regeneration operation may be terminated and the vacuum pump used to exhaust the fluid present in the fluid circulation path from the apparatus.
  • the present invention incorporates a vacuum pump which is configured to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path.
  • this vacuum pump may be operated after a regeneration or desorption operation is completed and when the fluid present around the fluid circulation path contains a desired or minimum concentration of the volatile compound previously stored in the pressure resistant container.
  • the invention may incorporate a vacuum pump rated to provide at least a 0 kPa (abs) vacuum pressure to the invention's fluid circulation path and associated pressure resistant container.
  • a vacuum pump may be connected to any pressure conduit to access the fluid circulation path, or any applicable port formed in the pressure resistant container.
  • the output of the vacuum pump can be used to exhaust the fluid present in the fluid circulation path to a desired volume where the volatile compound is required.
  • this vacuum pump may also be operated to facilitate volatile compound regeneration operations.
  • the vacuum pump may operate after the operation of the heat exchange structure, before the operation of the heat exchange structure, or both before and after the operation of this component.
  • the invention may perform a range of heating and vacuuming processes which preferably expose the volatile compound storage media to large swings in both temperature and pressure.
  • the apparatus provided by the invention includes at least one valve engaged with the port or ports of the pressure resistant container. Furthermore the apparatus also includes at least one valve engaged with the outlet port or ports of the pressure resistant container. These valves are operable so that the fluid circulation part can be isolated from the in that stage outlet stage and dehumidification structure during regeneration operations. The same valves are operable to isolate the pressure conduit or conduits which define part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container during capture operations. This system of valves therefore allows the apparatus of the invention to use the same pressure resistant container in both capture and regeneration operations and to isolate the various components of the invention not required during each operation from the pressure resistant container.
  • the capture and regeneration apparatus may also include a centralised control system.
  • This control system may be connected to any sensor assembly integrated into the apparatus and may also be configured to issue operation or control signals to valves, pumps, heating, dehumidification systems and/or gas and fluid drive assemblies.
  • This control system may manage both capture and storage operations as well as regeneration and supply operations to ensure that a volatile compound can be extracted from a volume efficiently, and also delivered to a volume rapidly.
  • programmable logic controller may be utilised to perform this role in conjunction with the present invention, with well-known information technology systems being used to facilitate a user interface for operators of the invention.
  • the present invention may provide many potential advantages over prior art.
  • the invention may provide a compact portable handling and storage system for volatile compounds.
  • the compact nature of the invention allows it to be mounted to or associated with a support structure and be transported to a location at which volatile compounds are to be captured and regenerated.
  • the invention also allows for the rapid and safe supply of volatile compounds from storage.
  • the invention's use of high temperatures and pressures in a desorption process allows for the rapid liberation of volatile compounds contained within the storage media employed.
  • Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of components employed to implement a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
  • Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of the components employed to implement a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the apparatus 1 includes a pressure resistant container 2 which encloses and contains an activated carbon storage media 3.
  • the storage media is used to adsorb and store methyl bromide, and also to deliver methyl bromide on demand.
  • the pressure resistant container 2 includes a pair of opposed inlet ports 4 with associated control valves (not shown) adjacent to the bottom section of the pressure resistant container 2. Similarly a pair of opposed outlet ports 5 and associated control valves are located adjacent to the top section of the pressure resistant container 2.
  • the apparatus 1 also includes an inlet stage 6 and an outlet stage 7 where each of the stages are deployed in a volume containing a volatile compound.
  • the volume in question contains methyl bromide gas with the inlet and outlet stage being used to circulate this gas through the pressure resistant container 2.
  • Each the inlet and outlet stages also includes a fan 8 which forms a portion of an adsorption drive assembly.
  • This drive assembly is used to draw gas into the inlet stage and transport this gas through to the outlet stage to be exhausted from the apparatus.
  • the fan 8 is run during capture operations when each of the valves associated with the inlet and outlet ports 4, 5 are opened to the dehumidification structure 10 and outlet stage 7 and closed to the pressure conduits 14 discussed further below.
  • a filter assembly 9 is also connected to the inlet stage and is arranged to filter solids and large particles from the gas flow supplied by the inlet stage.
  • a dehumidification structure 10 is connected to this filter and is used to remove water from gas received from the inlet stage and filter.
  • the dehumidification structure 10 forms a cooling chamber 11 which has a refrigerant containing heat exchange line 12 running through it. Gas travelling through the cooling chamber experiences a temperature drop, triggering the condensation of water vapour from the gas.
  • the outlet of the dehumidification structure 10 is connected to one of the inlet ports 4 of the pressure resistant container 2.
  • the receiving line of the outlet stage is connected through to one of the outlet ports 5 of the pressure resistant container 2.
  • the apparatus 1 also incorporates a series of pressure conduits 14 linked together to define part of a fluid circulation path between the remaining outlet port 5 and inlet port 4 of the pressure resistant container.
  • the remaining part of the fluid circulation path traverses the interior of the pressure resistant container.
  • a vacuum pump 15 Connected in line with these conduits is a vacuum pump 15, fluid drive assembly fan 16 and heat exchange structure 17. These components are used in a regeneration operation when methyl bromide is to be removed from the pressure resistant container's storage media and delivered to an external volume.
  • each of the valves associated with the inlet and outlet ports 4, 5 are opened to the pressure conduits 14 and the corresponding valves are closed to the dehumidification structure 10 and outlet stage 7.
  • the fluid drive assembly fan then operates to circulate gas through the fluid circulation path, circulating in the direction from the bottom through to the top of the pressure resistant container. This circulating gas flow is heated by the heat exchange structure 17 to promote the desorption of methyl bromide from the storage media 3.
  • additional vacuuming processes can also be run using the vacuum pump 15 while the heat exchange structure 17 is deactivated. Such processes can expose the interior of the pressure resistant container and the fluid circulation path to a low-pressure environment, promoting the desorption of methyl bromide from the storage media 3.

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Abstract

In one aspect the invention provides a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus including a pressure resistant container containing storage media capable of adsorbing, storing and desorbing a volatile compound. A fluid drive assembly and heat exchange structure is provided with at least one pressure conduit configured to circulate heated fluid through the pressure resistant container. A vacuum pump is provided which exhausts fluid present in the pressure resistant container. The apparatus includes an inlet stage to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound, and an outlet stage connected to the outlet port of the pressure resistant container arranged to exhaust gas from the apparatus. Also provided is a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of the pressure vessel configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage prior to delivery to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container.

Description

VOLATILE COMPOUND CAPTURE AND REGENERATION APPARATUS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus. In preferred embodiments this apparatus may have a portable character and may facilitate the rapid delivery of volatile compounds from a storage medium.
Background of the Invention
Volatile organic compounds are used in a wide range of applications for a variety of purposes. Exposure to some of these components has been shown to cause disease in humans and animals, while others are a contaminant or pollutant when released into the environment. These volatile organic compounds need to be handled, stored and disposed of carefully. The equipment and procedures employed with the use of these compounds needs to ensure that they are contained at all times and their users are not inadvertently exposed to them. Some of these compounds are also
expensive to produce, so it is of advantage if they can be captured, stored and recycled for use more than once.
For example, fumigant gases which act as pesticides, herbicides or
insecticides can be circulated within an enclosed volume. Fumigant gases can be used to kill pests in the interior of structures such as buildings, ship holds or grain silos, as well as to sterilise goods present within shipping containers. In other applications fumigant gases can be deployed into stacks of logs wrapped in fabric covers to sterilise the wood prior to or after shipping. The range of applications for fumigant gases requires these gases to be pumped into and removed from both comparatively small and relatively large enclosed volumes.
As identified above a number of commonly used fumigation gas compounds pose human health and safety risks. Furthermore, some of these compounds are also a source of environmental pollution when vented directly to the atmosphere. In particular, methyl bromide is a widely used fumigant which reacts with ozone. Various regulatory bodies around the world are now beginning to restrict the venting of these types of gases directly to the atmosphere.
In yet other instances volatile organic compounds may form a contaminant within a large volume of solid materials such as topsoil, waste materials from building demolitions, or rubbish materials in general. These materials need to undergo a remediation process to remove volatile contaminants which may only be present in small concentrations but which still can pose a significant health risk. Such remediation processes require these volatile compounds to be extracted and then either stored securely or destroyed completely.
Existing technology has been developed in an attempt to address the challenges posed by the use of these compounds in specific applications. For example, dedicated static fumigation installations have been developed which process materials with volatile gas treatments in sealed chambers, circulating the treatment gas through several chambers and then storing it though adsorption in a solid carbon matrix when not required. Although these installations make good use of their volatile gas treatment compounds they required a high level of continuous material throughput to be efficient as gases are circulated through several chambers. Once the treatment gases are stored in a solid carbon matrix they require a long period of heating at temperature about 100 degrees Celsius to be desorbed and returned to the gas phase. This temperature range must be maintained to ensured high gas pressures are not experienced in the containment system used for the solid carbon matrix, particularly when flammable volatile compounds are being desorbed.
These installations are therefore an inefficient system for handling volatile treatment gases when small batches of material need to be treated, or for large, bulky materials which are difficult to move or which will not fit inside a confined treatment chamber. Furthermore, such installations cannot be used effectively when the materials to be treated cannot be moved to the installation, or would cause health and safety problems if moved to the installation. Another approach to these problems is described in the applicant's earlier patent filing, WO2016137337. This patent publication describes a fumigant gas circulation and destruction system with a portable character, allowing it to be used at the existing location of a material requiring treatment with a volatile fumigant gas. Although able to perform effectively in this role, the system described generates a waste product from the reaction of a
treatment liquid with the fumigant gas and does not allow fumigant gases to be stored and used more than once.
It would be of advantage to have improvements in the field of volatile compound capture and regeneration systems which addressed any of the above referenced issues or at least provided an alternative to the prior art.
In particular improvements over the prior art which provide a compact portable handling and storage system for volatile compounds would be of advantage. Improvements over the prior art which also allowed for the rapid and safe supply of volatile compounds from storage would also be of advantage.
Disclosure of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus which includes
a pressure resistant container which encloses and contains storage media capable of adsorbing and storing a volatile compound and desorbing said compound, the pressure resistant container defining an inlet port and an outlet port,
at least one pressure conduit defining part of a fluid circulation path between the outlet and inlet ports of the pressure resistant container, the remaining part of the fluid circulation path traversing the interior of the pressure resistant container,
a heat exchange structure coupled to at least one pressure conduit and being configured to transfer heat to a fluid circulating within the part of the fluid circulation path defined by said at least one pressure conduit,
a fluid drive assembly associated with the said at least one pressure conduit configured to circulate fluid around the fluid circulation path, a vacuum pump which is configured to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path and pressure resistant container from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus,
an inlet stage configured to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound,
an outlet stage connected to the outlet port of the pressure resistant container and being arranged to exhaust gas from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus,
a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of the pressure vessel configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage prior to delivery to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container,
an adsorption drive assembly configured to draw gas into the inlet stage and through the dehumidifier structure, pressure resistant container and to exhaust gas from the outlet stage, and
at least one valve engaged with the inlet port of the pressure resistant container, and at least one valve engaged with the outlet port of the pressure resistant container, wherein the valves are operable to isolate the fluid circulation path from the inlet stage, outlet stage and dehumidification structure during regeneration operations and which are operable to isolate said at least one pressure conduit defining part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container during capture
operations.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of volatile compound capture and regeneration using the apparatus
substantially as described above which includes the steps of;
undertaking a capture operation by drawing gas from a volume containing a volatile compound into the inlet stage and through the dehumidifier structure, pressure resistant container and exhausting gas from the outlet stage when valves engaged with the inlet and outlet ports of the pressure resistant container are operated to isolate said at least one pressure conduit defining part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container, and
undertaking a regeneration operation by operating the valves engaged with the inlet and outlet ports of the pressure resistant container to isolate the fluid circulation path from the inlet stage, outlet stage and dehumidification structure and circulating fluid heated by the heat exchange structure around the fluid circulation path to desorb at least one captured volatile compound from the storage media contained in the pressure resistant container.
The present invention provides a volatile compound capture and
regeneration apparatus. In a further aspect the invention also facilitates the execution of a method of volatile capture and regeneration using this apparatus. The apparatus provided may allow volatile compounds to be captured and stored in a stable and safe manner and then delivered from storage when required again. The facility provided by the invention therefore allows for the reuse and recycling of such volatile compounds without generating a stream of waste materials, as it is normally experienced when volatile compounds are destroyed or neutralised after a single use. In particular the invention may perform a capture operation to remove the volatile compound from a volume or area, and at a later date may perform a regeneration operation which facilitates delivery of the same volatile compound, preferably to a different volume or area, and potentially at a later time.
In a preferred embodiment the invention may be used to capture and regenerate methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a volatile organic compound commonly used in fumigation applications which also forms an
environmental pollutant when released to the atmosphere. In various preferred embodiments the apparatus provided by the invention may have a portable character, allowing it to be transported to a site where methyl bromide gas is to be delivered and then subsequently removed.
Reference in general throughout this specification will also be made to the volatile compound captured and regenerated in conjunction with the present invention being methyl bromide. However those skilled in the art should appreciate that the invention may be used to capture and regenerate a wide range of other volatile compounds, and reference to methyl bromide in isolation should in no way be seen as limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the portable character provided to the invention in various implementations allows it to be used in a range of applications, such as for example remediation of materials contaminated with other forms of volatile compounds which cannot easily, safely or practically be transported to a remote location.
The apparatus provided by the invention incorporates a pressure resistant container with at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. This pressure resistant container is used to contain a storage media capable of adsorbing and storing methyl bromide and then desorbing methyl bromide depending on the environment or conditions experienced by the storage media.
In a preferred embodiment the storage media contained within the pressure resistant container may act to adsorb methyl bromide when experiencing ambient or relatively low temperatures, while the same media may desorb methyl bromide when exposed to high temperatures and/or a low-pressure environment.
In a preferred embodiment the storage media used by the present invention may be activated carbon. Activated carbon is relatively inexpensive material which can function in the role required of a storage media in accordance with the present invention.
However in other embodiments the storage media used by the invention may include mixtures of various components, such as for example a combination of activated carbon, zeolite and polymeric adsorbents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific formulation of the storage media employed may vary depending on the application with which the invention is used and the volatile compound being captured and
regenerated. Reference throughout this specification to the use of activated carbon in isolation in this role should in no way be seen as limiting.
For example, in one preferred embodiment activated carbon storage media may be employed which exhibits the following characteristics:
Figure imgf000009_0001
As indicated above the storage media used by the invention is enclosed and contained within a pressure resistant container. The use of a pressure resistant container in this role facilitates high-temperature desorption operations, allowing for the rapid release and use of the volatile compounds present within the contained storage media. The use of a high temperature desorption operation in turn generates a high pressure environment, which can be particularly dangerous when flammable volatile compounds such as methyl bromide gas are to be regenerated.
The use of a pressure resistant container in accordance with the invention securely contains these high-temperature and high-pressure explosive gas mixtures, allowing volatile compounds to be removed from storage relatively rapidly.
Furthermore the provision of a pressure resistant container also facilities the use of a vacuum pump in combination with the invention, as discussed further below. Again the pressure resistant container used can resist a compressive force applied through the operation of such a vacuum pump.
In a preferred embodiment a pressure resistant container used in
accordance with the invention may operate at temperatures ranging between -10 to 300 degrees Celsius and/or at pressures ranging between 0- 400 kPa (abs). Again those skilled in the art will also appreciate that other forms or configurations of pressure vessels can however also be used in conjunction with the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment a pressure resistant container used in
accordance with the present invention may meet the standards set out in section VII, division 2 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code.
In a preferred embodiment a pressure resistant container may include an outlet port located adjacent to the top or upper section of the vessel, and an inlet port located adjacent to the bottom or the lower section of the vessel.
In such embodiments gas flows will therefore enter from the lower section of the vessel and exit from its upper section.
In a preferred embodiment a pressure resistant container provided by the invention may also incorporate or be covered by an insulation jacket.
Thermal insulation material may be used to form this jacket which can operate to retain and trap heat within the interior of the pressure resistant container. This insulation jacket can therefore improve the rate at which methyl bromide can be desorbed from the contained storage media and/or to provide energy efficiency improvements in the use of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment the interior of a pressure vessel reservoir may also incorporate or contain a storage media agitation structure. This component may be activated when methyl bromide is to be desorbed from the storage media and can act to mix to or move the storage media within the pressure vessel reservoir. For example, in one preferred embodiment such an agitation structure may be formed from a set of mixing paddles linked to a central driveshaft deployed in approximately the centre of the pressure vessel reservoir. Rotation of the driveshaft and connected paddles can agitate and stir the storage media, promoting desorption of stored methyl bromide.
The present invention includes an inlet stage configured to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound. In various embodiments this inlet stage may be formed from or incorporate an entry port defined in a conduit used to transfer gas to further components of the invention. The inlet stage can therefore be located adjacent to or within a volume which contains the specific volatile compound to be captured and regenerated in conjunction with the invention. For example, in one particular preferred embodiment where the invention is used in a fumigation application with methyl bromide, the inlet stage may be located underneath or within a fabric cover used to trap methyl bromide gas delivered to a material being fumigated.
In a preferred embodiment the inlet stage may also incorporate or be associated with a filter mechanism. This filter mechanism can be used to prevent solid materials or large diameter particles from being transmitted through the inlet stage to other components of the invention.
The present invention includes an outlet stage configured to receive gas from the outlet port of the pressure resistant container and to this exhaust gas from the invention. In various embodiments this outlet stage may be formed from or incorporate an exit port defined in a conduit used to transfer gas from the pressure resistant container.
In preferred embodiments the outlet stage can be located adjacent to or within a volume which contains the specific volatile compound to be captured and regenerated in conjunction with the invention. In particular, the outlet stage can be placed within the same volume of space as the inlet stage, spaced apart from or displaced from the inlet stage to allow the invention to circulate the gas present in this volume. For example, in one particular preferred embodiment where the invention is used in a fumigation application with methyl bromide, the outlet stage may be located
underneath or within a fabric cover used to trap methyl bromide gas delivered to a material being fumigated. The outlet stage can be located at a distance from any inlet stage positioned underneath the same fabric cover to circulate the methyl bromide contained under the cover.
The present invention also includes a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of a pressure vessel. This dehumidification structure is configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage and then deliver the dried or dehumidified gas to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container. In a preferred embodiment a dehumidification structure may be formed from a cooling or chilling apparatus located within or in association with a condensation chamber. Gas flows from the inlet stage may be channelled through this condensation chamber and experience a drop in temperature, prompting water vapour present in the gas to condense into liquid water.
The unwanted liquid water can then collect at the bottom of the
condensation chamber while the dried gas flow may then be channelled through to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container.
In a further preferred embodiment a condensation chamber may be cooled or chilled by a liquid refrigerant material cooled by a refrigeration unit and subsequently circulated through a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber. For example, in some embodiments the
dehumidification structure may be formed from a condensation chamber and a refrigeration unit connected to a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber, where the refrigeration unit is configured to circulate cooled liquid refrigerant material through the heat exchange system.
In a preferred embodiment the invention also incorporates an adsorption drive assembly configured to draw gas into the inlet stage and transport gas through the dehumidifier structure and pressure resistant container, and then to exhaust gas from the outlet stage. For example, in one preferred embodiment an adsorption drive assembly may be formed by a fan
integrated in line with any one of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure or outlet stage, this fan being of a sufficient capacity or power to generate desired gas flow rates through these components of the invention.
This arrangement of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure, and outlet stage allows the gas present in the same volume as the inlet and outlet stages to be circulated through the pressure resistant container, thereby adsorbing and storing volatile compounds present in this volume. The dehumidification structure can remove water from the gas as it circulates, increasing the rate of adsorption of the related volatile compound as it moves through the pressure resistant container. Gas may be continuously circulated from the inlet through to the outlet stage until the concentration of the volatile compound being stored drops to below a desirable value. In a preferred embodiment the present invention may also include an adsorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide
information on the characteristics of the gas transported through the inlet stage, dehumidification structure and outlet stage. In various embodiments at least one component of an adsorption sensor assembly may be associated with any one or more of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure and/or outlet stage.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example, an
adsorption sensor assembly may be composed from or incorporate any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
In a preferred embodiment an adsorption sensor assembly may incorporate a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and a volatile compound
concentration detector. In such embodiments the adsorption sensor assembly can provide useful information for fine tuning the operation of the invention when used to adsorb or store volatile compounds, and can also indicate when the concentration of a volatile compound present in the gas being circulated has dropped below a threshold or target value. In such embodiments the adsorption sensor assembly may be used during capture operations where an output obvious in sensor assembly can be used to trigger the termination of the capture operation when the concentration of the volatile compound present in the gas drawn into the inlet stage drops below a threshold value.
The present invention also includes at least one pressure conduit which defines part of a fluid circulation path extending between the outlet and inlet ports of the pressure resistant container. The remaining part of this fluid circulation path traverses the interior of the pressure resistant container.
The pressure conduit or conduits therefore allow fluid to be repeatedly circulated through the interior of the pressure resistant container. A pressure conduit may be formed from any applicable conduit which is rated to or has the capacity to function without damage when exposed to high pressures. For example, in one preferred embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of pressure conduits formed from an array of serially connected stainless steel conduits rated to operate without damage when exposed to pressures ranging between 0 to 400 kPa (abs).
In a preferred embodiments a pressure conduit or conduits employed with the invention may be covered by a thermally insulating material. This thermally insulating material can be employed to restrict the loss of heat from fluids travelling through the part of the fluid circulation path defined by the conduit.
Preferably the invention also incorporates a fluid drive assembly associated with this pressure conduit or conduits. This fluid drive assembly is configured to circulate fluid around the fluid circulation path.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any appropriate form of drive assembly may be utilised in various embodiments to implement this component of the invention. For example, in one preferred embodiment a fluid drive assembly may be formed from a fan or impeller system rated to operate at temperatures ranging between 200-300 degrees Celsius.
Preferably the invention also incorporates a heat exchange structure coupled to at least one pressure conduit. This heat exchange structure is configured to transfer heat to a fluid circulating within the pressure conduit or conduits referenced above. For example, in various embodiments a heat exchange structure may be formed by a material placed in contact with the exterior surface of a pressure conduit where a heat transfer fluid is heated and circulated through this material. Fleat can therefore be transferred through the wall of the pressure conduit and into fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path.
In a preferred embodiment a heat exchange structure may also incorporate a heat generation system such as a hydrocarbon fuelled boiler or electrical element based system. The heat transfer fluid used may be heated by this component to allow for heating of the fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path. In a further preferred embodiment a heat exchange structure may be configured to raise the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path to at least 100 degrees Celsius, and preferably into the range of 200-300 degrees Celsius. These relatively high temperatures can promote the desorption of volatile compounds stored in the media contained by the pressure vessel as fluid present within the fluid circulation path moves through the pressure resistant container. This range of operating temperatures can be utilised to both efficiently remove large amounts of stored volatile compounds from the pressure resistant container in addition to minimising the time required to remove such volatile compounds.
The pressure conduit or conduits, heat exchange structure and fluid drive assembly can be utilised in a regeneration, desorption or delivery operation to extract volatile compounds present within the pressure resistant container's storage media. A closed loop circulation process may be implemented to heat the gas present in the fluid circulation path as it is continuously circulated through the pressure resistant container by the fluid drive assembly. This process can ultimately generate a fluid mixture of the original gas present with the fluid circulation path and the gas phase of the volatile compound originally stored in the pressure vessel.
In a preferred embodiment the present invention may also include a desorption sensor assembly. This assembly can be used to provide
information on the characteristics of the fluid circulating in the fluid circulation path. In various embodiments at least one component of a desorption sensor assembly may be associated with any one or more of the pressure conduit or conduits used, the heat exchange structure and/or the pressure resistant container itself.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a desorption sensor assembly may incorporate a variety of sensor technologies. For example a desorption sensor assembly may be composed from incorporate any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
In a preferred embodiment a desorption sensor assembly may incorporate a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and a volatile compound concentration detector. In such embodiments the desorption sensor assembly can provide useful information for fine tuning the operation of the invention when used to desorption previously stored volatile compounds, and can also indicate the concentration of a volatile compound present in the fluid being circulated through the pressure resistant container.
For example in various preferred embodiments an output signal or signal sourced from a desorption sensor assembly may identify the concentration of a desorbed volatile compound circulated within the invention's fluid flow path during a regeneration operation. If this sensor assembly output identifies that this concentration has exceeded a threshold value the regeneration operation may be terminated and the vacuum pump used to exhaust the fluid present in the fluid circulation path from the apparatus.
As indicated above, preferably the present invention incorporates a vacuum pump which is configured to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path. In various embodiments this vacuum pump may be operated after a regeneration or desorption operation is completed and when the fluid present around the fluid circulation path contains a desired or minimum concentration of the volatile compound previously stored in the pressure resistant container.
For example in a preferred embodiment the invention may incorporate a vacuum pump rated to provide at least a 0 kPa (abs) vacuum pressure to the invention's fluid circulation path and associated pressure resistant container.
In various embodiments a vacuum pump may be connected to any pressure conduit to access the fluid circulation path, or any applicable port formed in the pressure resistant container. The output of the vacuum pump can be used to exhaust the fluid present in the fluid circulation path to a desired volume where the volatile compound is required.
In various embodiments this vacuum pump may also be operated to facilitate volatile compound regeneration operations.
In various embodiments the vacuum pump may operate after the operation of the heat exchange structure, before the operation of the heat exchange structure, or both before and after the operation of this component. In various embodiments the invention may perform a range of heating and vacuuming processes which preferably expose the volatile compound storage media to large swings in both temperature and pressure.
The apparatus provided by the invention includes at least one valve engaged with the port or ports of the pressure resistant container. Furthermore the apparatus also includes at least one valve engaged with the outlet port or ports of the pressure resistant container. These valves are operable so that the fluid circulation part can be isolated from the in that stage outlet stage and dehumidification structure during regeneration operations. The same valves are operable to isolate the pressure conduit or conduits which define part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container during capture operations. This system of valves therefore allows the apparatus of the invention to use the same pressure resistant container in both capture and regeneration operations and to isolate the various components of the invention not required during each operation from the pressure resistant container.
In a preferred embodiment the capture and regeneration apparatus provided by the invention may also include a centralised control system. This control system may be connected to any sensor assembly integrated into the apparatus and may also be configured to issue operation or control signals to valves, pumps, heating, dehumidification systems and/or gas and fluid drive assemblies. This control system may manage both capture and storage operations as well as regeneration and supply operations to ensure that a volatile compound can be extracted from a volume efficiently, and also delivered to a volume rapidly.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any appropriate form of
programmable logic controller may be utilised to perform this role in conjunction with the present invention, with well-known information technology systems being used to facilitate a user interface for operators of the invention.
The present invention may provide many potential advantages over prior art. In various embodiments the invention may provide a compact portable handling and storage system for volatile compounds. The compact nature of the invention allows it to be mounted to or associated with a support structure and be transported to a location at which volatile compounds are to be captured and regenerated.
In various embodiments the invention also allows for the rapid and safe supply of volatile compounds from storage. The invention's use of high temperatures and pressures in a desorption process allows for the rapid liberation of volatile compounds contained within the storage media employed.
Brief description of the drawing
Additional and further aspects of the present invention will be apparent to the reader from the following description of the following embodiment, given in by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
• Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of components employed to implement a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which is given by way of example only of a particular embodiment.
Best modes for carrying out the invention
Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of the components employed to implement a volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
The apparatus 1 includes a pressure resistant container 2 which encloses and contains an activated carbon storage media 3. The storage media is used to adsorb and store methyl bromide, and also to deliver methyl bromide on demand. In the embodiment shown the pressure resistant container 2 includes a pair of opposed inlet ports 4 with associated control valves (not shown) adjacent to the bottom section of the pressure resistant container 2. Similarly a pair of opposed outlet ports 5 and associated control valves are located adjacent to the top section of the pressure resistant container 2.
The apparatus 1 also includes an inlet stage 6 and an outlet stage 7 where each of the stages are deployed in a volume containing a volatile compound. In various applications the volume in question contains methyl bromide gas with the inlet and outlet stage being used to circulate this gas through the pressure resistant container 2.
Each the inlet and outlet stages also includes a fan 8 which forms a portion of an adsorption drive assembly. This drive assembly is used to draw gas into the inlet stage and transport this gas through to the outlet stage to be exhausted from the apparatus. The fan 8 is run during capture operations when each of the valves associated with the inlet and outlet ports 4, 5 are opened to the dehumidification structure 10 and outlet stage 7 and closed to the pressure conduits 14 discussed further below.
In the embodiment shown a filter assembly 9 is also connected to the inlet stage and is arranged to filter solids and large particles from the gas flow supplied by the inlet stage.
A dehumidification structure 10 is connected to this filter and is used to remove water from gas received from the inlet stage and filter. In the embodiment shown the dehumidification structure 10 forms a cooling chamber 11 which has a refrigerant containing heat exchange line 12 running through it. Gas travelling through the cooling chamber experiences a temperature drop, triggering the condensation of water vapour from the gas.
The outlet of the dehumidification structure 10 is connected to one of the inlet ports 4 of the pressure resistant container 2. Similarly the receiving line of the outlet stage is connected through to one of the outlet ports 5 of the pressure resistant container 2. These connections allow gas containing methyl bromide to be drawn into the apparatus, filtered for large particles, dehumidified and for the methyl bromide component of the gas to be adsorbed by the storage media held in the pressure resistant container. This gas flow can then be exhausted through the outlet stage, with this
recirculation process continuing until the concentration of methyl bromide detected by an adsorption sensor assembly 13 drops below a threshold or target concentration value.
The apparatus 1 also incorporates a series of pressure conduits 14 linked together to define part of a fluid circulation path between the remaining outlet port 5 and inlet port 4 of the pressure resistant container. The remaining part of the fluid circulation path traverses the interior of the pressure resistant container.
Connected in line with these conduits is a vacuum pump 15, fluid drive assembly fan 16 and heat exchange structure 17. These components are used in a regeneration operation when methyl bromide is to be removed from the pressure resistant container's storage media and delivered to an external volume.
In such operations each of the valves associated with the inlet and outlet ports 4, 5 are opened to the pressure conduits 14 and the corresponding valves are closed to the dehumidification structure 10 and outlet stage 7.
The fluid drive assembly fan then operates to circulate gas through the fluid circulation path, circulating in the direction from the bottom through to the top of the pressure resistant container. This circulating gas flow is heated by the heat exchange structure 17 to promote the desorption of methyl bromide from the storage media 3.
In various applications additional vacuuming processes can also be run using the vacuum pump 15 while the heat exchange structure 17 is deactivated. Such processes can expose the interior of the pressure resistant container and the fluid circulation path to a low-pressure environment, promoting the desorption of methyl bromide from the storage media 3.
This circulation and regeneration operation continues until a desorption sensor assembly 18 indicates that the concentration of methyl bromide being circulated exceeds a target or threshold concentration value. The vacuum pump 15 is then operated to extract the methyl bromide containing fluid desorbed from the storage media out of the apparatus 1.
In the preceding description and the following claims the word "comprise" or equivalent variations thereof is used in an inclusive sense to specify the presence of the stated feature or features. This term does not preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and further and additional embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to the skilled reader from the examples illustrated with reference to the drawings. In particular, the invention may reside in any combination of features described herein, or may reside in alternative embodiments or combinations of these features with known equivalents to given features. Modifications and variations of the example embodiments of the invention discussed above will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departure of the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What we claim is:
1. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus which includes
a pressure resistant container which encloses and contains storage media capable of adsorbing and storing a volatile compound and desorbing said compound, the pressure resistant container defining an inlet port and an outlet port,
at least one pressure conduit defining part of a fluid circulation path between the outlet and inlet ports of the pressure resistant container, the remaining part of the fluid circulation path traversing the interior of the pressure resistant container,
a heat exchange structure coupled to at least one pressure conduit and being configured to transfer heat to a fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path defined by said at least one pressure conduit,
a fluid drive assembly associated with the said at least one pressure conduit configured to circulate fluid around the fluid circulation path,
a vacuum pump which is configured to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path and pressure resistant container from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus,
an inlet stage configured to receive gas from a volume containing a volatile compound,
an outlet stage connected to the outlet port of the pressure resistant container and being arranged to exhaust gas from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus
a dehumidification structure connected between the inlet stage and the inlet port of the pressure vessel configured to remove water from gas received through the inlet stage prior to delivery to the inlet port of the pressure resistant container,
an adsorption drive assembly configured to draw gas into the inlet stage and through the dehumidifier structure, pressure resistant container and to exhaust gas from the outlet stage, and
at least one valve engaged with the inlet port of the pressure resistant container, and at least one valve engaged with the outlet port of the pressure resistant container, wherein the valves are operable to isolate the fluid circulation path from the inlet stage, outlet stage and dehumidification structure during regeneration operations and which are operable to isolate said at least one pressure conduit defining part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container during capture
operations.
2. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which includes an adsorption sensor assembly to provide information on the characteristics of the gas transported through the inlet stage, dehumidification structure and outlet stage, wherein at least one component of an adsorption sensor assembly is associated with any one or more of the inlet stage, dehumidification structure and/or outlet stage.
3. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adsorption sensor assembly is composed from or incorporates any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
4. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which includes a desorption sensor assembly incorporating any one or combination of a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, volatile compound concentration detector, and/or gas flow rate sensor.
5. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which is configured to capture and regenerate methyl bromide.
6. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the storage media contained by the pressure resistant container is activated carbon.
7. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the storage media contained by the pressure resistant container is a combination of activated carbon, zeolite and/or polymeric adsorbents.
8. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure resistant container operates at temperatures ranging between -10 to 300 degrees Celsius and/or at pressures ranging between 0-400 kPa (abs).
9. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure resistant container includes an outlet port located adjacent to the top or upper section of the vessel, and an inlet port located adjacent to the bottom or the lower section of the vessel.
10. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure resistant container is covered by an insulation jacket.
11. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interior of a pressure vessel reservoir contains a storage media agitation structure.
12. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the agitation structure is formed from a set of mixing paddles linked to a central driveshaft deployed in approximately the centre of the pressure vessel reservoir.
13. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet stage is located within the same volume of space as the inlet stage, spaced apart from or displaced from the inlet stage.
14. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dehumidification structure is formed from a
condensation chamber and a refrigeration unit connected to a heat exchange system associated with the condensation chamber, the refrigeration unit being configured to circulate cooled liquid refrigerant material through the heat exchange system.
15. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pressure conduit which defines a fluid circulation path is formed from an array of serially connected stainless steel conduits rated to operate without damage when exposed to pressures ranging between 0 to 400 kPa (abs).
16. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pressure conduit or conduits are covered by a thermally insulating material.
17. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchange structure is configured to raise the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path to at least 100 degrees Celsius.
18. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchange structure is configured to raise the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circulation path into the range of 200-300 degrees Celsius.
20. A volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vacuum pump is rated to provide at least a 0 kPa (abs) vacuum pressure to the fluid circulation path and associated pressure resistant container.
21. A method of volatile compound capture and regeneration using the apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 which includes the steps of;
undertaking a capture operation by drawing gas from a volume containing a volatile compound into the inlet stage and through the dehumidifier structure, pressure resistant container and exhausting gas from the outlet stage when valves engaged with the inlet and outlet ports of the pressure resistant container are operated to isolate said at least one pressure conduit defining part of the fluid circulation path from the interior of the pressure resistant container, and
undertaking a regeneration operation by operating the valves engaged with the inlet and outlet ports of the pressure resistant container to isolate the fluid circulation path from the inlet stage, outlet stage and dehumidification structure and circulating fluid heated by the heat exchange structure around the fluid circulation path to desorb at least one captured volatile compound from the storage media contained in the pressure resistant container.
23. A method of volatile compound capture and regeneration using the apparatus as claimed in claim 21 which includes the further step of operating said at least one valve engaged with the outlet port of the pressure resistant container and operating the vacuum pump to exhaust fluid present in the fluid circulation path from the volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus when the concentration of said at least one desorbed volatile compound within the fluid present in the fluid circulation path exceeds a threshold value. 23. A method of volatile compound capture and regeneration using the apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein capture operations are undertaken until the concentration of the volatile compound present in the in the gas drawn into the inlet stage drops below a threshold value.
PCT/NZ2020/050078 2019-07-29 2020-07-29 Volatile compound capture and regeneration apparatus WO2021020973A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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NZ75581019 2019-07-29
NZ755810 2019-07-29

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1661149A (en) * 1925-01-21 1928-02-28 American Solvent Recovery Corp Process for treating gases
US5671612A (en) * 1994-02-04 1997-09-30 Jordan Holding Company Process and apparatus for recovering vapor
US20150360165A1 (en) * 2013-01-31 2015-12-17 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Separation of biologically generated gas streams
CN109045926A (en) * 2018-08-17 2018-12-21 青岛大拇指环境工程有限公司 A kind of emission-control equipment and method containing VOCs

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1661149A (en) * 1925-01-21 1928-02-28 American Solvent Recovery Corp Process for treating gases
US5671612A (en) * 1994-02-04 1997-09-30 Jordan Holding Company Process and apparatus for recovering vapor
US20150360165A1 (en) * 2013-01-31 2015-12-17 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Separation of biologically generated gas streams
CN109045926A (en) * 2018-08-17 2018-12-21 青岛大拇指环境工程有限公司 A kind of emission-control equipment and method containing VOCs

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